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Worst DIY purchase ever
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tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 12:39 pm    Post subject: Worst DIY purchase ever Reply with quote
    

A few months ago I was early for a meeting that happened to be near a branch of Selco builders merchants, I popped in there and ended up buying a couple of Silverline clamps. Tried using them last week, what a total piece of junk, they are useless (I can't think of a use for them anyway).

earthyvirgo



Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 12:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Worst DIY purchase ever Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
A few months ago I was early for a meeting that happened to be near a branch of Selco builders merchants, I popped in there and ended up buying a couple of Silverline clamps. Tried using them last week, what a total piece of junk, they are useless (I can't think of a use for them anyway).


Metal recycling.

Occasionally I can get away with Blackspur tools for my framing tasks but I've learnt not to buy Silverline

EV

Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4562
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The old saying,Buy cheap ,buy twice,

There is so much rubbish on the market.

frewen



Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 11405

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Disappointing though. When you buy something you expect it to be fit for purpose.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I bought a silverline roofing slate cutter-total junk!

Falstaff



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sometimes I wonder WHY - they bother to make the crap tools which sort of look ok but fold up the first time you try them - or the screwdrivers where the ends just round off the first time you try them ?

I suppose as long as most people just don't bother taking them back and having a rant at the shopkeeper - they'll still keep taking the money !

Are you going to take them back and demand a refund ?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Falstaff wrote:
Are you going to take them back and demand a refund ?


It was literally months ago, and I'm usually nowhere near a Selco. I've been in Screwfix almost every day recently....

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

frewen wrote:
Disappointing though. When you buy something you expect it to be fit for purpose.

The only reason that they sell things that are not fit for purpose is that people accept they are crap because they were cheap and do not take them back to the shop.

Perhaps we should have a concerted campaign of buying crap and taking it back...

But I have to speak up for Silverline: I have failed to break their garden fork, and their strimmer was not bad for the money.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Falstaff wrote:
Are you going to take them back and demand a refund ?


It was literally months ago....

So?
Don't forget the bit in their returns policy that says "your statutory rights are not affected".

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 3:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Generally I would say Silverline is rubbish.
OTOH there is sometimes a need for cheap tools.
I've owned Silverline cold chisels and were OK and I have a set of Silverline 'glass suckers' that have worked well (as long as you remember they are cheap and loose suction after a minute)

Cheap paint brushes are handy. However I opened a new pack of cheap brushes the other day ....... 3 inch brush handle snapped on first stroke

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

these sort are cheap and handy - can be used with one hand.
I've got half a dozen. Some have ally heads, some have molten plastic heads (they're not ideal for welding ) I have broken a few over the years but generally they're fit for purpose despite price.

kGarden



Joined: 01 Dec 2014
Posts: 178
Location: Suffolk, UK
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

onemanband wrote:
these sort are cheap and handy - can be used with one hand.


I've got some of them, and they have worked well for me. I also have some of these

[img]https://s7g3.scene7.com/is/image/ae235?$p$&layer=0&size=281,281&layer=1&size=281,281&src=ae235/1964C_P[/img]
https://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-spring-clamps-6-pack-of-2/1964c

the jaws are narrow, but I find them handy for small jobs, they can be applied with one hand and the clamp pads swivel which keeps them in good contact. 3-quid a pair.

EDIT: Something doesn't like the link to Screwfix's image, their loss for clickthroughs ...

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I bought these to replace the Silverline:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-spreader-clamp-920mm-36/6525d

Not bad for the price

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Forgesteel stuff does seem fit for purpose.

One good thing about screwfix is returning defective or not fit for purpose items is really easy.

Bungo



Joined: 21 Dec 2011
Posts: 354
Location: Wye Valley
PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 15 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I avoid made in China.

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